Events and Festivals

Celebrate with the local residents in all four seasons and join in on any number of unique festivals and fun events happening throughout Banff National Park. Get a complete overview of Banff events, Lake Louise events - all the Banff National Park events - going on during your visit right from our Calendar of Events.

Calendar Highlights

Banff Summer Arts Festival

May - August

The Banff Summer Arts Festival is The Banff Centre's annual feast of performing, visual, and literary arts, mountain culture, and leadership exploration. The 2009 Festival features more than 150 public events from May through August showcasing exceptional artists from around the world.

Join us for jazz, orchestra and chamber music concerts, opera, contemporary and classical dance, visual arts exhibitions, literary readings, mountain films, new media, and more.

Banff National Park Bike Fest

June

Banff National Park comes alive with pedal power during the Banff National Park Bike Fest. Sanctioned by the Alberta Bicycling Association (ABA), Banff will host a variety of competitive road cycling events over the course of four days. Come out and enjoy the faced-paced action and spectacular scenery.

Banff National Park Dragon Boat Festival

August

Bring your spirit to the lake for the Banff National Park Dragon Boat Festival. This centuries-old race will glide the mystical waters of Lake Minnewanka. The race features four boats with teams of up to 20 paddlers in race heats of 200, 500, and 1000 metre stints. Cultural festival activities and interpretation will also add excitement to the downtown core of Banff.

Banff Culture Walk

August

The second weekend of August, the streets of Banff came alive with art and culture with the annual Banff Culture Weekend, which combines a host of special events over two days. On Saturday, Banff Culture Walk provides the opportunity to meet and interact with artists at different galleries, museums and historic sites and a free outdoor movie in Banff Central Park. On Sunday, Doors Open Banff invites visitors and local residents to step back in time to peek into some of Banff’s most interesting heritage homes and buildings.

Mountain Book and Film Festivals

October - November

The Banff Mountain Film and Book Festivals held in Banff, Alberta, Canada feature a wide range of events over nine days. 2009 marks the 34th anniversary of the film festival, which includes a feature-film weekend, Radical Reels night, a mountain art and craft sale, presentations by guest speakers, lunch-hour seminars, an adventure trade show, climbing wall, and more! The Banff Mountain Book Festival, held during the film festival brings the spirit of outdoor adventure and the tradition of mountain
literature to Banff. The book festival celebrates the mountain world featured guest speakers, readings, seminars, book signings, and launches.

WinterStart Festival

November/December

Two weekends of entertaining events kick off the annual Winterstart Festival, with World Cup ski racing, Christmas in the Rockies and the colourful Santa Claus Parade.

Ice Magic Festival

January

Enjoy Lake Louise during the Ice Magic as internationally renowned teams will compete in the International Ice Carving Competition. Be there to witness the meticulous work the carvers put into their elaborate designs. Prize-winning sculptures are selected by a panel of NICA-certified ice carving judges and will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Ice carving demonstrations, music performances, and the Little Chippers Festival – fun for the entire family!

The Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival

May

Experience the multitude of special wine and food themed events offered throughout the weekend in the intoxicating Canadian Rockies. This Festival offers visitors a chance to sample from international wineries, along with single malt scotch, port, premium spirits, imported beer and mouth watering food samples prepared by Banff’s best local restaurants and hotels. Book your Banff getaway today, and get ready to sip, swirl and sample at the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival!